In this era of texting and Skypeing, maintaining long-distance relationships has become easier than ever, but still, there are ups and downs. Those days are gone when you had to pay sky-high rates for making a long-distance call with your partner. Technology has enabled us to stay connected with our loved ones, but it cannot certainly make up for everything.
The absence of physical proximity can make long-distance relationships emotionally challenging for many of us. According to a survey, around 24% of the respondents used the internet and various apps to maintain their long-distance relationships. In contrast, another study suggested that the quality of long-distance relationships does not significantly differ from those who are geographically close to each other but in certain cases, they might be better.
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What makes a long-distance relationship more interesting is realizing that when two people are apart from each other, it is better to do things both are passionate about. Specific considerations can strengthen long-distance relationships and improve the chances of a long-lasting healthy love.
Here are six tips to make a long-distance relationship work successfully
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- Be Intentional & Creative With Your Partner
A matchmaking can potentially find you your best match. But, what keeps a long-distance relationship thriving is the same thing that holds all relationships. It only requires a little additional effort to work a long-distance relationship. Many believe such relationships to be a downfall, but some advantages may lack in the traditional face-to-face relationship.
Many of us who see each other daily may lack creativity and intentionality, weakening even a short-distance relationship. Many difficulties and challenges indeed occur in long-distance relationships. Still, if you pay attention to your partner and make them feel happy and connected by being creative, becoming active learners, and re-designing the ways of connecting, you are good to go.
- Trust Goes A Long Way
Trust is essential for all kinds of relationships, especially for those in long-distance relationships. It is important, to be honest, and open with each other. Hiding feelings or anything that could affect the vibrations can lead to jealousy, and suspicion, and create uneasiness between the two. Try avoiding miscommunication and being jealous if there is even 1% doubt about your partner. Be upfront when it comes to expressing your emotions and feelings regarding trust, honesty, and belief in one another.
- Keep Up With The Spontaneous Gestures
In long-distance relationships, you will not be able to be physically present for your partner to express romantic gestures spontaneously. But you can think of ways to show how much they mean to you (say, by writing a letter or sending a gift without reason).
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- Use Apps That Let You Stay Connected
Returning to the world of technology and the perks it brings to long-distance relationships, try using free apps that let you stay connected in the most exciting ways possible. For instance, Couple is a great free app for long-distance relationships that allows you to send “kisses” by pressing a button. The phones vibrate when two people match up. You can also draw pictures together, send videos and photos and message each other. Other apps can be used to share funny and cherishable moments and stay connected for as long as possible.
- Make Sure Potential Endgames And Goals Are On The Same Level
Research shows that a long-distance relationship is less stressful and more satisfying when the partners try to understand each other’s goals. This makes it easier for them to work together through every hardship of being geographically apart instead of hopeless. Communicate continuously about the potential end games and expectations from the long-distance relationship and the exact outcome of the separation.
- Make Maintenance More Critical Than Repair
This golden advice goes for all kinds of relationships – do not wait for problems to be full-blown. Address them as soon as they are detected. We often wait for things to resolve independently, which may rupture the relationship beyond repair.
Conclusion
Absence can weaken the heart, making us feel unbearable when our love affair is separated by a thousand miles. It takes tremendous commitment, patience, and effort from both partners in a relationship to make it work. It requires constant communication, planning, flexibility, and creativity to make the ties constantly budding.
Although there will be struggles when two people stay time zones away from each other, it is essential to prioritize and understand each other in the best way possible to keep the connection and romance alive. Make sure you talk about even the smallest things, including the mundane stuff about your day’s experience. If the dynamics focus on developing romance, that should create the foundational blocks of a happy and lasting long-distance relationship.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
